For Immediate Release
March 31, 2016
Contact: Shauna Tucker
Phone: 760.366.5440
Email: Shauna@mojavedesertlandtrust.org

Joshua Tree, CA— The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) Center for Conservation Initiatives welcomes the public to its 2nd annual Spring Open House on Saturday April 16th, 2016 from 10am-2pm. Celebrating just over a year at its new headquarters location, MDLT continues their Open House tradition with a program called Desert Connection Gathering: Cultivating our Connectivity. The public is encouraged to join in and celebrate cultural diversity and connecting to America’s treasured Public Lands.

On February 11, 2016 President Obama protected 1.8 million acres of California Desert under the Antiquities Act of 1906, thereby creating three new California Desert National Monuments (Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow and Castle Mountains) among the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states. Together with Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve, these expansive Public Lands now connect the Morongo Basin with the Inland Empire, Big Bear Lake, Coachella Valley and the high desert communities of Barstow, Victorville, Apple Valley and Needles. As a core local partner helping to protect these special places, MDLT will host a day of activities beginning at 10:00 am with special guest Juan D. Martinez in a public conversation about what these landscapes mean to diverse communities.

A proud product of South Central Los Angeles, Juan D. Martinez is the Children and Nature Network’s Director of Leadership Development and the Natural Leaders Network. The Children & Nature Network was co-founded by author Richard Louv as a response to the publication of his bestselling book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder.” Louv outlined the mental and physical health benefits of accessing nature, with a daily dose of “Vitamin N” a critical aspect of childhood development. Mr. Martinez is a national leader in the “New Nature Movement,” which grew from Louv’s critical research calling for programs to help connect children to nature and usher in the next generation of environmental stewards.

Martinez is a natural leader in this movement. At an early age, his passion to empower youth individuals led him to direct the Sierra Club’s first environmental justice youth leadership academy in Los Angeles. Martinez was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and travels across the US speaking and encouraging other young people to explore the outdoors. An excellent and convincing speaker, Juan participated in the first TED Youth national conference in New York, and TEDx in Jackson Hole, WY. Juan is on The Wilderness Society’s Governing Council, elected in 2015; and, in 2012, he was elected to the Sierra Club Foundation Board, their youngest member ever. He says:

“There is an opportunity, a once-in-century chance, to empower a generation to bridge the distance between America’s great outdoors and the many Americans who have not always had access to wilderness or to nature in their own neighborhoods. By celebrating our differences, we have a chance to truly nurture America’s future generation of stewards. We have a chance to establish a legacy of conservation and public land stewardship that reflects the rich culture of America.”

A panel discussion with prominent environmental and community leaders will follow the keynote. Panelists include:

• David Smith, Superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park, is a dynamic leader reaching local communities, new urban and rural audiences and historically underserved groups in innovative ways.

• Darla Guenzler, Executive Director of the California Council of Land Trusts (CCLT) ensures that CCLT acts as a unified voice for more than 150 land trusts working in local communities throughout California. In 2015 CCLT published Conservation Horizons: Keeping Conservation and Land Trusts Vital for the Next Age, which outlines the challenges, tools and opportunities to connect diverse populations to California’s public lands.

• David Lamfrom, National Parks Conservation Association Director of the California Desert and National Wildlife Programs is deeply involved in working with the diverse communities across the California Desert.

• Claire Robinson, Founder and Managing Director of Amigos de los Ríos, leads her organization in creating sustainable open spaces, strengthening community life, and preserving the environment in underserved areas of Southern California.

Like Mr. Martinez, each panelist has a unique connection to Public Land and its surrounding communities—communities that are critical to moving forward with stewardship efforts that involve many voices in fun, engaging and innovative ways. This panel will help deepen the discussion about public land for all to enjoy and give community members an opportunity to share why public lands are important to them, outline the barriers to accessing these lands, and envision ways to increase access and expand upon how they can be involved in protecting these special places.

A community lunch will follow the panel from Noon to 2:00 pm with live music, and mingling around map and information stations of the Sand to Snow, Mojave Trails and Castle Mountains National Monuments. Experts on the new Monuments will be on hand to answer questions and help the public sign-up for MDLT-led tours to these newly protected places. Delectable boxed lunches and beverages will be available for a $10 suggested donation.Within its mission to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its native, scenic and cultural treasures, the Mojave Desert Land Trust understands that, with the new Desert National Monument designations, comes the responsibility of stewarding these lands and ensuring access and enjoyment for all for generations to come. MDLT welcomes the public to connect and share in this event and in this mission.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Desert Connection Gathering: Cultivating our Connectivity Saturday April 16, 2016
10:00-11:30am  // “Cultivating our Connectivity to America’s Treasured Public Lands”
Featuring special guest Juan D. Martinez of the Children & Nature Network with key environmental leaders from the region in a panel discussion with the public
12:00-2:00pm // Community Lunch & Conversation
Delectable Boxed Lunch & Beverages by Madhouse Kitchen ($10 suggested donation)Desert Monuments and Maps—Info Stations & Tour Sign-Ups with live musical entertainment by Joe City Garcia
The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Dawn Frazier, Executive Assistant dawn@mojavedesertlandtrust.org or call (760) 366-5440

Mojave Desert Land Trust 60124 29 Palms Hwy • Joshua Tree, CA 92252 • 760-366-5440 www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org

Mojave Desert Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its scenic and cultural resource values through acquisition, land stewardship and strategic partnerships. Since 2006 the organization has protected over 57,000 acres of desert land.